Saint Mary’s College of California’s women’s soccer team defeated the San Francisco Dons 3-0 at Saint Mary’s Stadium in Moraga on October 2, 2026. The victory marked the Gaels’ first West Coast Conference win of the season and extended their home unbeaten streak to a program-record 20 matches.
The Gaels controlled possession throughout the match, registering a season-high 19 shots on goal. Freshman midfielder Elizabeth Vega scored her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate start, becoming the third Gael freshman to score this season. The goal came in the 27th minute off a combined assist from freshman Brianna Jurasek and senior Brittany Holden.
Just 44 seconds later, forward Ashlyn Vaughn increased the lead to 2-0 following an assist from Natalie Mejia. Holden then provided a player-of-the-match performance by scoring her first goal of the season and second career goal in the 62nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to secure a 3-0 lead.
Goalkeeper Kate Plachy recorded her fifth shutout of the season with six saves, helping the Gaels secure their ninth shutout of the year, one of only two teams in the country to reach this mark. The defense showed consistency as three of four defenders, including graduate student Anna Emperador playing her ninth straight full match, completed the full 90 minutes.
Looking ahead, Saint Mary’s will host the LMU Lions on October 7 at 4 p.m. in Moraga, followed by an away game against the Portland Pilots on October 10 at 6 p.m., both part of the West Coast Conference schedule.
CSB Take
The Gaels’ 3-0 victory over San Francisco not only extends their historic home unbeaten streak but also signals a growing synergy between experienced leaders and emerging freshmen like Elizabeth Vega and Brianna Jurasek. Brittany Holden’s leadership and pivotal contributions elevate the team’s offensive threat, while Kate Plachy’s steady goalkeeping foundation strengthens the defense. Maintaining this momentum will be crucial as Saint Mary’s pursues greater success within the competitive West Coast Conference.
Source: Original report
